Winter
Dec → Feb16 to 18°
nights 6 to 8°
- 5 rainy days · 25 mm
When is the best time to visit Kathmandu?
- Jan16°not recommended
- Feb18°fair
- Mar22°recommended
- Apr25°recommended
- May25°fair
- Jun26°not recommended
- Jul26°not recommended
- Aug26°not recommended
- Sep25°fair
- Oct23°recommended
- Nov20°recommended
- Dec18°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Kathmandu, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 6° | 28 mm | 6 d | |
| February | 18° | 8° | 35 mm | 7 d | |
| March | 22° | 11° | 64 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| April | 25° | 14° | 85 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| May | 25° | 17° | 216 mm | 23 d | |
| June | 26° | 19° | 464 mm | 27 d | |
| July | 26° | 20° | 870 mm | 31 d | |
| August | 26° | 20° | 683 mm | 31 d | |
| September | 25° | 19° | 443 mm | 28 d | |
| October | 23° | 15° | 85 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| November | 20° | 11° | 10 mm | 3 d | ✓ |
| December | 18° | 7° | 11 mm | 2 d |
The four seasons in Kathmandu, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Kathmandu Durbar Square) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May22 to 25°
nights 11 to 17°
- 16 rainy days · 122 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug26°
nights 19 to 20°
- 30 rainy days · 672 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov20 to 25°
nights 11 to 19°
- 15 rainy days · 179 mm
Book early for March to April and October to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Kathmandu, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 13h53 of daylight, in December 10h24, a difference of 3h29.
10h34Jan
11h11Feb
11h56Mar
12h48Apr
13h30May
13h53Jun
13h44Jul
13h07Aug
12h17Sep
11h27Oct
10h44Nov
10h24Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Kathmandu Durbar Square" (27.70°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Kathmandu, month by month
EventsHoliMarchIndra JatraSeptemberDashainSeptember to OctoberTiharOctober to NovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Kathmandu, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- MarchHoli
The city is covered in coloured powder at the March full moon, especially around Durbar Square and in Thamel.
- SeptemberIndra Jatra
Masked dances and the chariot of the living Kumari circle Durbar Square for eight days in September.
- September to OctoberDashain
The country's longest festival empties the valley for two weeks, with shops closed and buses to the villages packed to bursting.
- October to NovemberTihar
Houses are decked with marigold garlands and oil lamps for five days, between October and November.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended16°6° at night
- 28 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair18°8° at night
- 35 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Recommended22°11° at night
- 64 mm · 12 d
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended25°14° at night
- 85 mm · 14 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair25°17° at night
- 216 mm · 23 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended26°19° at night
- 464 mm · 27 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended26°20° at night
- 870 mm · 31 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended26°20° at night
- 683 mm · 31 d
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair25°19° at night
- 443 mm · 28 d
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended23°15° at night
- 85 mm · 14 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended20°11° at night
- 10 mm · 3 d
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair18°7° at night
- 11 mm · 2 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 16 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Rain stays light: 28 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (64 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
April. 25 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Frequent rain: 85 mm over 14 days. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Frequent rain: 216 mm over 23 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. A very wet month, 464 mm of rain over 27 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. A very wet month, 870 mm of rain over 31 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. A very wet month, 683 mm of rain over 31 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 25 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Frequent rain: 443 mm over 28 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 85 mm over 14 days. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (10 mm over 3 days). Busy season, without the crush.
December. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 7 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (11 mm over 2 days). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kathmandu?
March to April and October to November: over these months, recorded highs range from 20 to 25 °C, with 11 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Kathmandu Durbar Square).
Which month should you avoid in Kathmandu?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 870 mm over 31 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Kathmandu Durbar Square).
What is the hottest month in Kathmandu?
June, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Kathmandu Durbar Square).
What is the coldest month in Kathmandu?
January, with 16 °C at best during the day and 6 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Kathmandu Durbar Square).
What is the driest month in Kathmandu?
November: 10 mm over 3 days of rain, against 870 mm in July, the wettest month.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Kathmandu guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Nepal: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Huu Huynh / Pexels · Jimmy Liao / Pexels · NiAksh Prit / Pexels · Sagar Mali / Pexels · Bibek Bohara / Pexels · Dinesh lens / Pexels